Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

But if we have the said record of our God: should we then doubt of it still? Is it a presumptuousness to do God so much honour, as to believe him to be faithful, and to rest our selves upon his word. Again on the other side;¹ when we go to pray, is it not a good forwardness that he giveth us when he sayeth, come too me? If we had no commandment to pray unto God, surely it were too great a rashness to press into his presence. But seeing that, he calleth us, yea and tarrieth not till we seek him, but preventeth us, and telleth us that he requireth nothing but that we should come to him, and giveth us both the motion and mind too pray unto him: if we take him for our God, let us yield him his deserved ⟨p. 190⟩praise, by seeking all our welfare at his hand. Seeing (say I) that he hath so prevented us: should we dispute whither we ought to follow him or no? Is it not a blasphemy that tendeth to the defacing of all Gods promises? Thus ye see what we have too remember when mention is made of this word Cry. But yet for all this, howsoever the world go with us, though we be fain too hack it out like folk that have half forgone their speech, and be straitened with so many overthwarts that we cannot fashion out one syllable or jot aright: yet whatsoever come of it, let us not leave going unto God, upon this ground, that he will succour us at our need, and redress the infirmities that pluck us back. To be short, when the spirit worketh in us to stir us up to the groanings whereof I have spoken: let us seek God, and though we be at our wits end, and know not whereat to begin: let us always go forward to the mark that is set before us here. And Saint Paul saith purposely, that we cry Abba, father, to signify that it is not the Jews only whom God will have to call upon him, and to flee to him for succour nowadays: but that he will have the whole world to do it. And forasmuch as the Gospel which is the key to open us the gate of Paradise, is published every where: now he will have all men to enjoy the right which heretofore had bin as the special privilege of the linage of Abraham. Thus ye see after what manner we cry Abba, father. Now the first word Abba signifieth a father: howbeit Saint Paul useth the language that was held still as most common among the Jews.

But if we haue the sayde recorde of our God: should wee then doubt of it still? Is it a presumptuousnesse to do God so much honour, as to beleeue him to be faythfull, and to rest our selues vpon his worde. Againe on the other syde;